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CORK COUNTY SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP 1ST ROUND REPORT

BALLYHEA 2-9 GLEN ROVERS 1-13 (11/05/02)
Played At | Fermoy.

So near yet so far, for our seniors last Saturday night on a perfect Fermoy surface as a game which could have been won was snatched by the Blackpool boys after an exciting game.

Ballyhea got off to a dream start with a goal after 4 minutes when Neil Ronan's sideline was finished to the net by Conor O' Riordan. Darren Ronan added a point 4 Minutes later. Neil Ronan pointed in the 9th minute and Ballyhea were 5 points clear. The Glen though stormed into the game with 4 points on the trot (10th, 11th, 15th and 16th Min). Ballyhea then had a let off when Timmy Shanahan cleared off the goalline and at the other end Ian Curtin and Neil Ronan (free) pointed to stretch our lead to 3pts again, 1-4 to 0-4, after 20 mins. Both sides added a point each before the break but the Glen would have been level only for a brilliant save by our keeper Padraig Morrissey.

Ballyhea started the second half excellently and with our halfback line trio playing their hearts out we found the Glens net again, after great work by Darren Ronan who evaded a number of tackles before crossing to midfielder Barry Coleman who first timed spectacularly at full stretch to put us 6 points in front. But howsever, we were not to score again from play. The Glen added points in the 34th, 35th and 37th minutes before a Neil Ronan free put us 4 points clear again.

At this stage Stephen Dennehy was doing very well at full back and Jonathon O' Sullivan was working tiredlessly at centre-forward while Barry Coleman was having a tremendous debut at midfield.

The Glen added 3 more points in the 40th, 41st and 42nd minutes before Jonathon O' Sullivan pointed a free to put us 2 points ahead with 15 minutes remaining. Ballyhea had a number of wides in this period which were to prove very costly. With 9 minutes left on the clock, the Blackpool men struck for a goal through George O' Callaghan to go ahead for the first time. Neil Ronan levelled from a '65' two mins later. Glen replied with another point before Neil Ronan equalised again with 5 mins to go.

Glen Rovers struck for another point in the 56th minute but despite having a number of chances, Ballyhea failed to reply

Despite defeat, there were a number of very encouraging performances especially form our two Championship debutants, Padraig Morrissey who played in goals in place of his cousin Ollie, and 17 year old Barry Coleman who was a clear "Man Of The Match" at midfield and crowned with a brilliant goal.

A showdown with Seandun now awaits us in the Second Round.

BALLYHEA SCORERS
Neil Ronan 0-6 (0-4 frees, 0-1 65's)
Darren Ronan 0-1
Conor O' Riordan 1-0
Barry Coleman 1-0
Jonathon O' Sullivan 0-1 (free)
Ian Curtin 0-1

BALLYHEA TEAM
Padraig Morrissey, Tim Shanahan, Stephen Dennehy, Noel Hanley, Sean Curtin, Aidan O'Connor (capt), Eamon Morrissey, Aidan Crowley, Barry Coleman, Ian Curtin, Jonathon O' Sullivan, Ian Ronan, Conor O'Riordan, Nail Ronan, Darren Ronan

BALLYHEA SUBS
Diarmaid O' Riordan for Ian Ronan,
Johnny O' Sullivan for Ian Curtin
Brendan Daly, Eoin O' Keeffe, Kieran O' Leary, Brian O' Shaughnessy, Owen O' Sullivan, Derek Mackessey, Ray Ronan